Last season's Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finalists had only won once in five domestic outings so far this season, but they weathered early and late storms to get their European campaign off to a winning start.

Eves made 13 carries during the match and terrorised the Bourgoin defence in the first half especially. His performance earned him the Amlin man of the match verdict from former British & Irish Lions and Scotland legend Scott Hastings.

More importantly, he helped put the Falcons on the right road in one of the toughest Pools in the tournament. Next week they have to travel to France to meet high-flying Montpellier before meeting English rivals Exeter Chiefs back-to-back in rounds three and four.

"This is a massive confidence booster for us. We always epected them to give us a hard time up front, but they also tried to play wide," said Eves,

"We haven't had the best start to the season, but we put in a big defensive effort in the end and we're delighted with the victory."

Bourgoin held the upper hand in the opening exchanges and led 6-0 after 10 minutes thanks to the reliable boot of outside half Sebastien Laloo. But his opposite number, Jeremy Manning, changed the momentum of the another game midway through the first-half.

Moments after missing a penalty Manning rounded off a sweeping move with his first try for his new club after his summer switch from Munster. That score was followed five minutes later by another debut try.

This time it was hooker Joe Graham who marked his first start for the Falcons with a close range try that Manning converted. That completed a turn-around in the score that gave the home side a six point lead they took into the break.

Bourgoin came thundering out of the blocks at the start of the second half and almost scored from the re-start before a knock-on prevented scrum half Mickael Campeggia from claiming a try.

A Manning penalty stretched the home lead and sparked a sustained period of pressure than culminated with a third try from right wing Keith Fielden. Manning's 18-year-old replacement, Joel Hodgson, added the conversion to make it 22-9.

But the French visitors threw everything into the final quarter and were good value for their try from a close range line-out from replacement scrum half Jeremy Gondrand. Laloo, who had added a third penalty in the 56th minute, converted and Bourgoin pressed hard for the score to level matters.

But some strong defence from the Falcons, especially one try saving tackle from replacement centre James Fitzpatrick, held their line safe and gave them a morale boosting start.